Harrogate MP backs Government switch to offer free school meals over holidays

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has welcomed the Government’s decision to ensure free school meals are now made available to low income families over the Christmas holidays.
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After previously rejecting calls to extend the free meals over the half-term holidays, the Prime Minister has now agreed to extend the scheme, following a campaign led by footballer Marcus Rashford.

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Businesses and organisations across the country, including many across the district, backed the campaign against the Government’s decision and took matters into their own hands over October half-term, offering free meals and food parcels out of their own pockets for struggling families.

MP Andrew Jones and the Resurrected Bites team, who have been helping out struggling families, have welcomed the Government's decision.MP Andrew Jones and the Resurrected Bites team, who have been helping out struggling families, have welcomed the Government's decision.
MP Andrew Jones and the Resurrected Bites team, who have been helping out struggling families, have welcomed the Government's decision.

Mr Jones, who voted against the half-term extension of free meals, said the Government had to ‘respond to situations as they change’ and that the latest coronavirus lockdown meant more people will need the extra financial support, leading them to reconsider their decision.

He told the Harrogate Advertiser: “The situation with Covid-19 changes rapidly. Since the original decision that the support provided was adequate what have we seen?

“Infections rocketing, the need for travel corridors to get students home at Christmas, pupils having to isolate at home meaning parents can’t work and a new lockdown closing many of the lowest paid jobs in hospitality and retail.

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“That is why the Government looked again to see what additional help it could give. Some may call it a U-turn and crow about it. That isn’t important to me. My goal is to get the right support to the people who need it most, and nothing else.

“That will mean changing responses when the circumstances change. When the problem changes, the solution will change too.”

Boris Johnson’s latest move has been well received by the director of local charity Resurrected Bites, Michelle Hayes, who recently revealed to the Harrogate Advertiser that many families across the district were going without food in a bid to provide for their children.

She said: “I am really pleased the Government has decided to provide free school meals to low income families this Christmas.

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“Many families are under so much stress at the moment and having the reassurance that they will be able to feed their children during school holidays will help to alleviate some of that stress.”